Nursery production

Moses Munjuga

Presentation structure• What is a quality seedling?• Type of nurseries• Good nursery practices

(factors to achieve quality seedlings)

• Seedling production in individual country

• Introduction to seedlings production practical

Quality seedlings

• Seedlings adapted to the planting site condition

- Bushy site – vigorous shoot - Dry site – good root system

• Seedlings which start growing quickly after transplanting should have:

• Strong rooting system• Adequate inoculation

Good seedling quality is the basis for tree planting success

Tree nurseries categories

– Individual or private– Community or group– Central – Commercial– Training

Nurseries are differentiated by their function and size.

Factors affecting seedling quality• Careful seedling handling

-pricking out -root pruning -transport

• Containers -plastic bags -local materials

• Optimal substrate -porosity-waterholding capacity-fertility

• Appropriate nursery environment wateringWeeding regularlyAppropriate shadingHygieneRecord keeping

Seedling handling• Seeds are sown in

seedbeds but sometimes directly into container

• Carefully transplanting or pricking out

• Root pruning is necessary

• Ensure careful handling when transporting to field

• Change the containers if it takes longer time

Containers

• Plastic or polythene bags

• Containers made from local materials

• Biodegradable containers should be used

Substrate

• Good waterholding capacity

• Porosity (root development)

• Fertility (monitor for deficiency)

Substrate gives the seedling stability and nourishment, therefore necessary for good seedling development

Nursery and plant hygiene

• Refers to pest (rodents, insects, birds, etc.) and diseases (fungi, bacteria etc)

• Always use new prepared substrate (Cleanliness)

• Substrate change

• Use pesticides or fungicides in case of attack

Nursery environments• Root prune seedlings and

sometimes shoot prune

• Water seedlings regularly

• Put shade over seedlings• Weeding

• Protect seedlings from animals (fence)

• Keep record of all nursery activities

Seedlings production • Cameroon – vegetative

propagation and on-station seed research

• Ghana – Large scale production, community and central nurseries production. Vegetative approach is being developed

• Tanzania- Central and community nurseries production

After nursery….

• Seedlings from central nursery were planted in genebank in Ghana and Tanzania (two genebank)

• Seedlings from community nurseries were planted in on-farm (about 5000 seedlings, in 2006)

Introduction to seedlings production

• Mixing substrate

• Potting

• Pricking out

• Root pruning